Life in the communities that we serve on the river is full of challenges and you know that anywhere you find difficulty you will find people attempting to handle it in negative ways. That is especially true when they don’t have the hope of the gospel, the community of Terra Preta is the same way, that’s where Marcelo grew up with his brother Auliandro, also know as Lico.

Marcelo was using alcohol and drugs to deal with life and numb the pain. He testifies that he had hit rock bottom when his brother, Lico, gave his life to Jesus and began to invite him to church at Elshadai.

The brothers walked for about six hours in the middle of the forest to attend the services. After seeing the joy of the people there and hearing John 3:16 for the first time they came to realize the purpose for which they were created and the call of God for their lives.

The decision to follow Jesus gave them peace but it also created new challenges. Their Catholic family kicked them out of their home and their friends and the community began to shun them.

So we went to live in an uncle's house in Elshadai but after six months our uncle encouraged us to return to our parent’s home to witness for the gospel. It was a difficult process, there was resistance to the gospel and, as new believers, we were not trained Bible students.

But little by little, Jesus was using us to preach the gospel and we reached not only our family but also our neighbors. Soon we were able to start services and Bible studies in our home town.

God continued to work in our lives as we were invited by First Baptist Church to participate in a project together with the mission organization Asas de Socorro. We started to make several missionary trips to other riverside communities, sharing the gospel and serving people, so the conviction grew in my heart that this was what God had for my life. I knew that there were many small villages in distant places and I wanted to dedicate my life to talking about God to those who needed to listen.

In 2010, we were invited by Pastor Moacy Paulino to participate in the first class of seminarians at the Leaders Training Center (CTL). It was a very important step in my life so that I could learn more about the Bible and how to spread the gospel. At CTL I was able to receive many tools to correctly handle the Bible and that helped me to prepare and grow as a leader.

God has always been faithful to Marcelo and his wife Dailane. Recently they overcame a new challenge in their lives and the life of their unborn son. It was a high risk pregnancy with many difficulties that made it necessary to go to the hospital in Manaus but at 27 weeks Lucas Boaz came into the world at 700 grams (just over 1-1/2 pounds).

God answered prayers and performed many miracles, both in Daliane's recovery and in the baby's development, that became a testimony that amazed the hospital staff.

The journey of faith increased their dependence on God. They know that challenges will always come their way but they cannot get tired of preaching the gospel and serving God with joy.

When they don't want to leave the comfort of their home they remind themselves that there is someone else that also needs to hear the good news about Jesus.